Volunteers Opportunities

Help create a legacy of caring
A wise man once said that a society is judged by how we treat our most vulnerable members. Each year the Council on Aging meets the needs of nearly 50,000 Orange County residents through our programs and services. But we could not meet this demand without the enthusiasm, energy and support of our many volunteers. Join them and discover the simple pleasures of helping those who have weathered life's storms. They deserve the care and respect that we would all like to enjoy someday.

How you can make a difference
By choosing to give some of your time and energy to support our programs or, to give directly through a financial contribution, you can make a difference in the quality of life of our older adults. Whether you learn about Medicare and help someone make choices as an informed health care consumer, or you help answer phones in the Council on Aging office, you can make a difference in our community as a whole. Or, if you choose to make a donation, you will be making a direct investment in the health and welfare of our community.

By becoming a part of the human chain linking those in need with those who care about their needs, you are making a difference today for those who need our help now. And you will be part of a legacy of caring that will be there for the future, should you or members of your family ever need our assistance.

Volunteering: a chance to connect, heart-to-heart
Council on Aging volunteers who provide direct services to older adults are full of stories of ways in which they touched the lives of others and were touched in return. From helping a woman in a nursing home get funding to replace her lost dentures, to connecting a caregiver with a much needed respite, Council On Aging volunteers know the satisfaction of being where they are truly needed. They give their time and concern. They get smiles–and boundless gratitude–in return.

How you can help?
Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of programs and capacities. You can volunteer as:

• Board of Director – Help guide the Council on Aging serving Orange County older and dependent adults
• HICAP Counselor – Help advise older adults and their families on their health insurance rights and choices for Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
• Ombudsman – Visit licensed long–term residential and nursing facilities throughout the county to help residents express their wishes and resolve issues and concerns in the quality of their care
• Caring Connections Friendly Visitor – Provide regular friendly visits to assigned clients
• Guild Member – Provide assistance with special projects and fund raising efforts
• Speaker – Present on issues of importance to the older population before community, corporate and professional groups through our Speaker's Bureau or Continuing Education Program.
• Office Assistant – Answer phones or perform clerical duties
• SAIF - educate elders and dependent adults in the community on how to be SAIF from scams, fraud, ID theft, trust mills and telemarketers.

What training is available?
Volunteers in all of our programs receive complete and regular training as appropriate to the programs in which they are working. HICAP counselors, for example, receive 24 hours of training, plus 15 hours of internship; they then commit to a minimum of eight volunteer hours per month. Ombudsmen must complete a state-mandated 36-hour training course and supervised visits with mentors plus 12 hours of continuing education each year to retain certification. Other opportunities may require little or no formal training.

How much time does volunteering take?
There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that can meet your interests and time availability from a short-term, one-time project to an ongoing, more significant time commitment. Everyone involved will be grateful for whatever time you are willing to commit.

To fill out a Volunteer on-line registration form, please click here. Thank you for your interest.